The Duke MBA Net Impact Club is a hub for those passionate about social and environmental impact at Fuqua. As a professional club, we aim to provide resources, foster relationships, and expand opportunities for students interested in building careers in the impact sector. Our work is complemented by opportunities to engage in social, environmental, and governance issues through academic centers, coursework, conferences, case competitions, other professional clubs, and more.
To give more insight into Net Impact and its mission, we’ve answered a few questions about our time leading the club.
Marit: I chose Fuqua because of its strong social impact programming. I got involved with Net Impact because I wanted to join a community of like-minded individuals, learn from peers from different sectors and backgrounds, and have access to more relevant recruiting and professional resources.
Maggie: I came into Fuqua wanting to be a part of Net Impact! I worked in the sustainability field before Fuqua and ended up working with two past Net Impact co-presidents. They both encouraged me to join the community if I wanted to find my squad of awesome, like-minded people.
Maggie (left) and Marit (right)
Marit: My favorite event has to be the annual Sustainable Business and Social Impact (SBSI) Conference. Maggie did a phenomenal job organizing the event last year and demonstrated incredible leadership and resilience when a snowstorm forced us to pivot to a fully virtual format.
I worked with a former co-president to manage all marketing efforts in the months leading up to the conference. I had so much fun designing graphics in Canva, managing the event website, and coordinating a takeover of the Fuqua Instagram on the day of the event. And as a special highlight, my amazing cousin, Tiana Epps-Johnson, was one of our keynote speakers!
Maggie: Like Marit, my favorite event was SBSI! Leading an event as big as SBSI is truly such a unique opportunity, and I got to do it with an amazing team.
We spent half the year planning the conference, and then found out, roughly 16 hours before the event was due to start, that on-campus activities across Duke were canceled due to a snowstorm. I still don’t know how we did it, but we were able to completely pivot and make it a fantastic virtual event. The team could not have been more brilliant if they tried. As much fun as we had pulling that off, I’m very much looking forward to an in-person event this year!
Celebrating a successful Sustainable Business and Social Impact (SBSI) event with this year’s SBSI directors
Maggie: Having met a handful of the past presidents, I can safely say that this club has been in good hands for years now. Marit and I have been so lucky to build on the great work done before us. This Gold Chapter status is a memento, a high-five, to us and everyone who’s come before us to push impact forward at Fuqua.
In the social impact space, things feel like an uphill battle most of the time. This reminds us that there are people cheering us on for our hard work!
Marit: I completely echo Maggie’s answer. This recognition is a testament to the time, effort, and attention that our predecessors invested in Fuqua’s Net Impact Club over the years. And more than anything, this award makes me think of our members, the students who show up, ask hard questions, and choose to spend their limited time on work that matters.
Maggie and I can set the vision, but it’s their passion and commitment that truly bring this club to life. I hope they feel this recognition as much as we do.
Holding a Net Impact cabinet meeting
Marit: Net Impact is just one of the many resources available to you at Fuqua! I recommend joining impact-focused clubs that align directly with your interests, whether that’s food and agriculture, energy, or business and policy. At the same time, consider joining a professional club that supports your functional career goals, such as finance, consulting, or marketing. Connect with second-year students who have participated in experiential learning opportunities like CASE i3 Initiative on Impact Investing, Fuqua on Board, and the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP) to learn whether those experiences might be a good fit for you. Build relationships with the amazing staff and faculty at Fuqua’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) and Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE).
Maggie: Take advantage of your network! There’s an incredible alumni base that is itching to get you and other brilliant students involved in this important work. There are faculty and staff who want students to think about people and planet, not just shareholder value.
“Team Fuqua” is not just a superficial saying. We’re there to support each other long after graduation, and we will certainly need a great team if we’re going to tackle issues like climate change.
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To give more insight into Net Impact and its mission, we’ve answered a few questions about our time leading the club.
The Net Impact Club is one of the largest organizations at Fuqua. As co-presidents, what motivated you to get involved with the club, both personally and professionally?
Marit: I chose Fuqua because of its strong social impact programming. I got involved with Net Impact because I wanted to join a community of like-minded individuals, learn from peers from different sectors and backgrounds, and have access to more relevant recruiting and professional resources.
Maggie: I came into Fuqua wanting to be a part of Net Impact! I worked in the sustainability field before Fuqua and ended up working with two past Net Impact co-presidents. They both encouraged me to join the community if I wanted to find my squad of awesome, like-minded people.
Maggie (left) and Marit (right)
What has been one of your favorite Net Impact projects or events so far?
Marit: My favorite event has to be the annual Sustainable Business and Social Impact (SBSI) Conference. Maggie did a phenomenal job organizing the event last year and demonstrated incredible leadership and resilience when a snowstorm forced us to pivot to a fully virtual format.
I worked with a former co-president to manage all marketing efforts in the months leading up to the conference. I had so much fun designing graphics in Canva, managing the event website, and coordinating a takeover of the Fuqua Instagram on the day of the event. And as a special highlight, my amazing cousin, Tiana Epps-Johnson, was one of our keynote speakers!
Maggie: Like Marit, my favorite event was SBSI! Leading an event as big as SBSI is truly such a unique opportunity, and I got to do it with an amazing team.
We spent half the year planning the conference, and then found out, roughly 16 hours before the event was due to start, that on-campus activities across Duke were canceled due to a snowstorm. I still don’t know how we did it, but we were able to completely pivot and make it a fantastic virtual event. The team could not have been more brilliant if they tried. As much fun as we had pulling that off, I’m very much looking forward to an in-person event this year!
Celebrating a successful Sustainable Business and Social Impact (SBSI) event with this year’s SBSI directors
You recently earned Gold Chapter status – congratulations! What does this recognition mean to you?
Maggie: Having met a handful of the past presidents, I can safely say that this club has been in good hands for years now. Marit and I have been so lucky to build on the great work done before us. This Gold Chapter status is a memento, a high-five, to us and everyone who’s come before us to push impact forward at Fuqua.
In the social impact space, things feel like an uphill battle most of the time. This reminds us that there are people cheering us on for our hard work!
Marit: I completely echo Maggie’s answer. This recognition is a testament to the time, effort, and attention that our predecessors invested in Fuqua’s Net Impact Club over the years. And more than anything, this award makes me think of our members, the students who show up, ask hard questions, and choose to spend their limited time on work that matters.
Maggie and I can set the vision, but it’s their passion and commitment that truly bring this club to life. I hope they feel this recognition as much as we do.
Holding a Net Impact cabinet meeting
What advice do you have for someone who’s interested in pursuing an impact career or related opportunities at Fuqua?
Marit: Net Impact is just one of the many resources available to you at Fuqua! I recommend joining impact-focused clubs that align directly with your interests, whether that’s food and agriculture, energy, or business and policy. At the same time, consider joining a professional club that supports your functional career goals, such as finance, consulting, or marketing. Connect with second-year students who have participated in experiential learning opportunities like CASE i3 Initiative on Impact Investing, Fuqua on Board, and the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum (FCCP) to learn whether those experiences might be a good fit for you. Build relationships with the amazing staff and faculty at Fuqua’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) and Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE).
Maggie: Take advantage of your network! There’s an incredible alumni base that is itching to get you and other brilliant students involved in this important work. There are faculty and staff who want students to think about people and planet, not just shareholder value.
“Team Fuqua” is not just a superficial saying. We’re there to support each other long after graduation, and we will certainly need a great team if we’re going to tackle issues like climate change.
The post What Is the Net Impact Club? appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : What Is the Net Impact Club?